Safety bathtub

ABSTRACT

A safety bathtub including at least one upstanding wall; and a built-in thermometer in the wall, the thermometer including a measuring portion and a scale portion, and the thermometer being mounted such that the measuring portion is immersed in water when the bathtub has water in it, and the scale portion is out of the water when the bathtub has water in it, for continual monitoring from outside and above the bathtub.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to bathtubs in general, and in particular,to a safety bathtub, especially for babies.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Bathtubs of many shapes and sizes have long been known. When bathingbabies and children, safety considerations are particularly important,especially the temperature of the bath water. If the bath water is toohot, the child will be burnt, while if the water is too cold, the childruns the risk of catching cold. In any event, trauma to the baby due toincorrect temperature is undesirable. Similarly, the elderly and otheradults must take care with regard to the water temperature in the bath.

In the past, the temperature of the water has generally been measuredbefore putting the child into the bathtub. The most common method isthat of inserting an elbow into the water, or dripping the water on awrist, in order to determine whether it is too hot or cold. In addition,a number of thermometers have been designed for measuring thetemperature of the bath water. These generally include a separate,floating thermometer which is placed in the tub and which must beremoved to read the temperature. When monitoring the temperature of thewater before and during bathing, the thermometer is read, then returnedto the water, removed a few minutes later for an additional reading, andreturned to the water. This frequent immersion and removal leads toinaccurate readings on conventional thermometers.

Another important fact about floating thermometers is that they areinfluenced (as is the upper level of the water) by the outsidetemperature, and therefore provide an inaccurate measurement. Thatdeviation cannot be adjusted, because the outside temperature isconstantly changing.

There is also shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,271 a separate bath mathaving temperature related indicia. This device indicates dangeroustemperature ranges, i.e., above or below pre-determined thresholdlimits. However, it is limited in that it does not indicate the exacttemperature, and it is not visible for monitoring when the water becomescloudy, as a result of shampoo, soap, bath oil, etc.

In addition, care must be taken that a baby does not become entangled inthe thermometer cord or scratch himself on the thermometer housing.Furthermore, these thermometers cannot be seen when soap bubbles are onthe water in the tub or when the water is unclear due to a mixture ofsoap or bath oil in the bath water.

With regard to the current methods available today, and as mentionedbefore, floating thermometers do not measure accurately, because theyare influenced by the outside temperature. Another option, availabletoday, is to use a non-floating thermometer, which is also limitedbecause, when placed in the water, it will sink, and will not permitcontinuous monitoring.

There are also known heating elements with thermostats in Jacuzzibathtubs for monitoring and automatically controlling the temperature inthe Jacuzzi. These thermostats are complicated, expensive to install andmaintain, and include electrical parts.

Accordingly, there is a long felt need for a device for permittingcontinual monitoring of the water temperature in a bathtub, and it wouldbe very desirable to have such a device which is not free floating inthe tub and, therefore, poses no safety hazard in itself. The uniquemethod of the present invention including the safety bathtub, providesan another important characteristic which was not available before: itprovides accurate measuring, while allowing continuous monitoring, atthe same time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, there is provided a safety bathtubincluding at least one upstanding wall, and a built-in thermometermounted in the wall, where the thermometer is mounted such that ameasuring portion is immersed in water when the tub has water in it, anda scale portion is out of the water for continual monitoring.

According to a preferred embodiment, the thermometer is mounted flushwith the wall.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the thermometer is mountedin a recess pre-formed in the wall of the bathtub.

According to a preferred embodiment, the thermometer is releasablysnap-fit into the recess.

There is also provided in accordance with the present invention a methodof forming a safety bathtub including the steps of mounting athermometer, including a temperature measuring portion and a scaleportion, in a wall of a bathtub, to form a built-in thermometer,arranging the temperature measuring portion beneath a recommended waterlevel line, and at least a portion of the scale portion above therecommended water level line, to permit continuous monitoring, fromoutside and above the bathtub, of the temperature in the bathtub beneaththe water level line.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be further understood and appreciated fromthe following detailed description taken in conjunction with thedrawings in which:

FIG. 1 a is an exploded perspective view of a safety bathtub constructedand operative in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 1 b is an outside perspective view of the safety bathtub of FIG. 1a;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the safety bathtub ofthe present invention is use;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the safety bathtubof the present invention is use; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the safetybathtub of the present invention is use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a safety bathtub, particularly for useby babies and small children, although also suitable for the elderly andother adults. The bathtub includes a built-in thermometer, preferablyflush with a wall of the bathtub, to permit continuous monitoring, fromoutside the bathtub, of the temperature of the water in the tub beforeand after bathing, especially by a person outside the tub who is bathinga baby or other individual inside the tub.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 a and 1 b, there are shown respective expandedinside and outside perspective views of one embodiment of the safetybathtub of the present invention. The tub of FIGS. 1 a and 1 b includesa tub shell 10 having an upstanding wall 12 and a lip 14 around theupper edge of wall 12. Shell 10 can be of any desired shape, and isillustrated here as a truncated ellipse. Shell 10 is preferably formedof cast plastic or Fiberglas, although it can alternatively be formed ofany other suitable material.

According to this embodiment of the invention, the tub shell 10 includesa pre-formed recess 16. Preferably, recess 16 includes a pocket 18(shown in broken lines) at the bottom. A thermometer 20, which can beany conventional thermometer, is arranged for mounting in recess 16. Inthe illustrated embodiment, thermometer 20 includes a frame 22 with athinner lower portion 24. Thinner portion 24 is arranged to seat inpocket 18 of recess 16, thereby preventing thermometer 20 from fallingout of recess 16. According to one embodiment of the invention, therecess is transparent, so the temperature can be read from outside thebathtub.

A strip of double-sided adhesive (not shown) or other adhesive materialcan be provided at the top of the thermometer frame to help affix thethermometer in recess 16. Alternatively, thermometer 20 can be mountedby friction in recess 16, or permanently affixed therein, as by screwsor any other method. According to another embodiment, pre-formed clipsare provided on the bathtub for mounting the thermometer with ameasuring portion beneath the recommended water level line, and a scaleportion above the recommended water level line.

It is a particular feature of this embodiment of the present inventionthat the thermometer is flush with the wall of the tub. In this way, ababy in the tub will not be scratched by a protruding frame.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a perspective view of the safetybathtub 30 of one embodiment of the present invention in use. As can beseen, shell 32 of bathtub 30 includes a built-in thermometer 34 in itswall. Thermometer 34 is located such that the temperature measuringportion 36 is located in the water, when the tub has water in it, whilea scale portion 38 extends above the water level. Preferably, thethermometer is located in such a way that the scale above about 20° C.is above a recommended water line. In any event, it will be appreciatedthat the scale can be viewed even when the tub has water, soap bubbles,and toys inside, as well as when the water is cloudy due to the mix ofsoap, shampoo, bath oil or dirt, and water in the tub.

In the illustrated embodiment, bathtub 30 includes an integral shelf 3extending from one end or side thereof, on which soap, shampoo, andother necessary bath items can be placed during the bath.

With reference to FIG. 3, there is shown a perspective view of a safetybathtub 40 constructed and operative in accordance with anotherembodiment of the present invention. Bathtub 40 includes a shell 42 anda built-in thermometer 44 mounted in a decorative frame 46. In this way,the frame serves to decorate the tub, and can include any favoriteshape, such as a duck, as shown, or a cartoon character. While it ispreferred that frame 46 be flush with the wall 48 of the tub,alternatively it can extend slightly into the tub, giving the illusionof being three dimensional.

FIG. 4 is a perspective illustration of a safety bathtub 50 constructedand operative in accordance with yet another embodiment of theinvention. Bathtub 50 may be a baby's tub, as illustrated seated on legs52, a full size tub, or a half-size tub, a portable tub, or fixed inplace, all as known. Bathtub 50 includes a built-in thermometer 54,which is a digital thermometer. It is illustrated herein as being anangular thermometer, a thermometer bent so that its temperaturemeasuring portion 56 extends from below the water level up the wall ofthe tub, while the scale portion 58 seats in the lip 59 of bathtub 50.In this way, the temperature can be read easily and continuously fromabove and outside the tub.

Thermometer 54 preferably is seated in a pre-formed recess formed withthe shell of the tub. Alternatively, an appropriately shaped groove orrecess can be formed in an existing bathtub, for inserting thethermometer.

Operation of the safety bathtub of the present invention is as follows.The bathtub is formed with the built-in thermometer in the wall. Anyconventional thermometer can be utilized, so the bathtub can be easilyand inexpensively manufactured and maintained. The thermometer can bereleasably mounted in the wall, for replacement in case of need, or canbe permanently affixed in the wall.

Needless to say that the thermometer in the present invention will be asuitable thermometer for use in water, and it preferably will bepre-formed properly to measure the water temperature from its specificlocation, without any abnormal deviation.

When it is time to bathe a baby or other individual, the tub is filledwith water to a recommended water line. As the water fills the tub, themeasuring portion of the thermometer, which is under the water levelline, indicates the temperature of the water, so that it can beadjusted, as required. When the tub has been filled to the desireddepth, and the temperature is in the desired range, the baby in placedin the water. The baby can now be bathed in the normal manner, and thetemperature can be monitored at any time during the bath, merely byglancing, from outside and above the bathtub, at the scale on thethermometer, which remains above the water line. Even if the bath waterclouds with soap, oil, and/or dirt, the scale can still be read at alltimes, without requiring the bather to pick up the thermometer with hishands, and without affecting the thermometer readings by repeatedimmersions in the water. Thus, the bather can obtain accuratetemperature readings at all times before and during bathing.

It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to what hasbeen described hereinabove merely by way of example. Rather, theinvention is limited solely by the claims which follow.

1. A safety bathtub comprising: a tub having a bottom, an upstandingwall integrally formed with and extending from the bottom, and anintegrally pre-formed thermometer-receiving recess in said upstandingwall of said tub; said recess being formed with a portion below a waterlevel line and a portion above said water level line; and a built-inmounted thermometer in said recess, said thermometer including ameasuring portion and a scale portion, and said thermometer beingmounted such that said measuring portion is immersed in water when thebathtub has water in it regardless of said water level line, and saidscale portion is mounted out of the water when the bathtub has water init regardless of said water level line, for continual temperaturemonitoring during use by a person outside and above the bathtub.
 2. Thesafety bathtub according to claim 1, wherein said thermometer isreleasably mounted by friction in said recess.
 3. The safety bathtubaccording to claim 1, wherein said thermometer is permanently mounted insaid recess.
 4. The safety bathtub according to claim 1, wherein saidthermometer is a digital thermometer.
 5. The safety bathtub according toclaim 1, wherein said thermometer is bent at an angle such that saidmeasuring portion is beneath said water level line while said scaleportion faces upwards on a top lip of said tub.
 6. The safety bathtubaccording to claim 1, wherein said thermometer is seated within saidrecess flush with said wall, so as not to protrude or extend into thebathtub.
 7. The safety bathtub according to claim 1, wherein saidbathtub is a portable baby's bathtub formed of plastic.
 8. The safetybathtub according to claim 7, wherein said thermometer is seated withinsaid recess flush with said wall, so as not to protrude or extend intothe bathtub.
 9. A method of forming a safety bathtub comprising thesteps of: forming a tub having a bottom, an upstanding wall integrallyformed with and extending from the bottom, and an integrally pre-formedthermometer-receiving recess in said upstanding wall of said tub; saidrecess being formed with a portion below a water level line and aportion above said water level line; and mounting a thermometer,including a temperature measuring portion and a scale portion, in saidrecess, to form a built-in mounted thermometer, such that saidtemperature measuring portion is immersed in water when the bathtub haswater in it regardless of said water level line, and said scale portionis mounted out of the water when the bathtub has water in it regardlessof said water level line, to permit continuous monitoring of thetemperature during use in said bathtub beneath said water level line bya person outside and above the bathtub.
 10. The method according toclaim 9, wherein said step of mounting includes seating said thermometerwithin said recess flush with said wall, so as not to protrude or extendinto the bathtub.
 11. The method according to claim 9, wherein said stepof forming includes forming said tub with said recess integrallypre-formed partially in said upstanding wall of said tub and extendinginto a top lip of said tub and further including providing saidthermometer bent at an angle and seating said bent thermometer in saidrecess such that said measuring portion is mounted in said upstandingwall while said scale portions faces upwards on said top lip.